Furniture construction



P 1932- R. K. MERRILL 1,875,635

FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 17, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 um-inunmmvzmoga WIT/less BY Sept. 6, 1932. R. K. MERRILL FURNITURE CONSTRUCTIONFiled April 1'7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR rr1// 124% K BY ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 6, 1932.

RALPII K. MERRILL, or GRAND RAPIDS, MIGHIGAN, ssIGNoR TO AMEa cAnsEArINers: COMPANY, or GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN,:A ,coRPonA'rIoN OF NEW JERSEYFURNITURE oonsrnucrxon I v A Application filed April 17, "1929. .Seriallto."35 5, fi08.

This invention relates to furniture construction.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improvedconstruction of table,

desk in which a center rib is used in place of a depending apron aroundthe marginal edges; to provide an improved construction which secures amaximum of knee room for the user thereof and is therefore especiallysuitable for kindergartens; and to provide an improved construction ofsupporting standard which can be fabricatedfrom relatively light-weightsheet metal but which will be rigid and steady.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in end elevation of my improved table desk.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view tak en on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary thin sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFig. 3.

In the construction shown in the drawings, my improved table deskcomprises a rectangular shaped horizontally disposed table top 1supported by vertically disposed end standards 2 attached to the underside thereof adjacent the ends of said top. These standards are ofidentical construction, merely being made in rights and lefts, thereforethe particular description of one standard will sufiice for both.

The inner side of the standard 2 closely adjacent the table top 1 isprovided with an inwardly facing U-shaped bracket clip 3 which embracesthe abutting end of a longitudinally extending bracing rib 4. The rib 4is rectangular in cross section and disposed in vertical edgewiseposition with the top edge 5 thereof abutting against the under side ofthe table top 1. Bolts 6 and 7 pass through the clip 3 and through theend of the rib 4 which is embraced thereby for securing the rib inposition in snugly abutting relationship against the supportingstandards 2.

Means are provided for securing the bracline strips 14 and 15 disposedin spacedparallel post members'16 and 17. The strips ltrand "15'haverectangular shaped panel portions "18 ing rib 4 in abutting relationshipagainst the under side of the table top 1 and comprise Z-clips'8 and 9which have one arm thereof secured by screws 10 and 11 respectively tothe table top'and the other. arm'thereof extending into kerfs 12 and '13formed inthe opposite sides ofthe rib 4," i

Theend standards 2 are fabricated from a pair" of relativelylight-weight sheet metal registering relation with their lateralmarginal edges spot welded or otherwisesuitably secured to verticallydisposed semi-tubular and 19 respectively depressed inwardly inreglstryso as to contact and these contacting panels are spot welded orotherwise suitably secured together, preferably at the points 20,

21; 22, 23 and 24:, these points being in the middle and'at thefour'corners of lthe contacting panel portions.

The semi-tubular member 16is provided with afisupporting foot 25 whichhasits upthe I like.

I per end 26 telesco'ped a ort distance into the?" The upper end ofthesuppor'tingstandard 2 has a furniture attachingbracket '28 spotwelded or otherwise suitably secured thereto which is provided with ahorizontally disposed flange 29" through which a series of apertures '30are formed. 7 IScrews 31 are provided to pass through the apertures 30for securing the flange .and supporting standard to the underside of thetable top 1. f

In the useof this device, it is particularly suitable for kindergartensin which instances the table top is from eighteen to twenty-fourinches-from'the floor. By eliminating the usual marginal depending apronpresent in structures of this character, a maximum amount of room isprovided for the knees of the children.

Extreme rigidity is secured by having the top edge of the bracing rib 4:abutting against? V 2 Y I 1,875,635

and secured firmly to the under side of the eliminates relative shiftingof the sheet metal strips 14 and 15.

' "Although-but one specificembodimentof this invention has been hereinshown andde- 1 scribed, it will be understood that numerous details ofthe construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing fromthe spirit of this invention as defined bythe i 7 .following claims. 1 rV Z W rlclaimz" 1 11. In metal structure ofthe character-specified, astandard comprising a pair ofsheet metal strips disposed in parallelrelation with their marginal edge portions spacedapart andtheintermediate portions pressed inward- "ly' and connected: to provide a.panel, post members connected to. opposite marginal edges of the stripsand closing the space there- -between, a foot attached to the lower endof each post member, a'bracket at the top and outer side of the standardand attached to the postmembers and outer strip, anda U-shaped -clip atthe top and inner side of the standard and attached to the inner strip.a

I 2. The combination with a table top and a 'rib secured to the bottomside thereof, of a standardone at each end of the rib-abutting thebottom side of the table top and end of the rib and attached thereto,said standard comprising a pair of sheet'metal, stripshaving theirmarginal edge portions spaced apart and the intermediate portionspressed inwardlyand connected to form a panel, post members connectingopposite marginal edge portions. of the strips and closing the spacetherebetween, a foot at the lower end of each post member, a U-shapedclip attached to the standard adjacent 'thetop thereof and em- I bracingthe sides of the contiguous end of the rib and connected thereto, and abracket attached to the standard adjacent the top thereof andunderlapping the table top and connected thereto.

In'testimony'whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Grand R higan this15 y of pril, 1929. a l V a I RALPH K. MERRILL

